8 Interesting Causes of A Roof of Mouth Sore

Are you experiencing soreness in the roof of your mouth? Now you are wondering why it is hurting. There might be various reasons why a roof of mouth sore might develop. You might be wondering what it is about and how to get rid of the sore.

Is it self-treatable? How much time will it take for the sore to heal? When should you consult a doctor? These are the questions that might be on your mind right now. So, go on and read the cause of the roof of the mouth sore below.

1. Causes of Roof of Mouth Sore

There are many causes for soreness in the roof of the mouth¹. Here are some of the most common causes of the roof of mouth sores:

1.1. Canker Sore

Cankers sores are shallow ulcers usually found at the base of the gums but sometimes they might also develop at the roof of your mouth. These sores might make it hard for you to eat and talk.

The simple canker sores may go away on their own after one or two weeks. But the complex canker sores that don’t go away after a few weeks might require the attention of a doctor. Injury in your mouth and consumption of citrus food items are the causes of canker sores². For quick healing, make sure to rinse your mouth daily.

1.2. Oral Herpes

A roof-of-mouth sore can also be a symptom of Oral Herpes³. Oral Herpes usually causes soreness on your tongue, gums, the roof of the mouth, and lips. You might also experience fever and muscle aches along with this.

Oral Herpes usually spreads through contact from person to person. These can usually be treated by simple medications such as taking antiviral oral pills and applying ointments. You must also regularly monitor the sore for any changes.

1.3. Oral Cancer

Not every roof-of-mouth sore might turn into a serious illness. But one should always be cautious. If you have a sore that doesn’t heal on its own for several weeks, then you might need to consult a doctor for treatment.

1.4. Gingivitis

This is a mild gum disease that causes inflammation in the gums⁴. A roof-of-mouth sore might also be a symptom of Gingivitis. The cause of this disease unhygienic oral practices. If the disease gets severe it may also lead to the loss of teeth. Gingivitis is treatable by a medical professional.

1.5. Dehydration

I think I am stating the obvious here. Out of the many symptoms that dehydration can cause, a roof of the mouth sore is one. You might also experience a dry mouth. Dehydration usually occurs when you lose more fluid than you take into your body.

Try reducing your alcohol consumption and drinking plenty of water.

1.6. Burns

If you are sensitive to spicy food, you might get a sore on the roof of your mouth after eating them. After eating hot and spicy chicken or pizza, you might usually experience this.

Burns in the mouth are not usually that severe and might go away by themselves after a week or so. But sometimes you might experience pain in the area. Rinse your mouth daily and eat soft foods to ease the pain around the area.

1.7. Oral Trauma

Oral Trauma ⁵might cause soreness in the roof of your mouth. Usually while drinking hot beverages or by injuring your mouth. If bleeding is involved apply a tea bag to the area of bleeding for some time.

Also, make use of ice cubes to relieve the pain.

1.8. Oral Thrush

Oral Thrush is a yeast infection. The infection is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. Oral Thrush might usually be seen in babies and people with a weak immune system. You can use antifungal medications to treat Oral Thrush.⁶

Consult a doctor so that they can prescribe you the right medicine.

2. Treatments for Mouth Sores

Most mouth sores might not be severe and will go away on their own after some time. Here are a few things you can do to treat and make them go away quicker:

• Comforting the sore area with an ice cube. This might be quite difficult if the sore is in the roof of the mouth. But you might as well try it to ease the discomfort.
• Rise your mouth with salt water daily to heal the sore faster.
• Apply a paste made of baking soda and water to the area of the sore.
• If the sore doesn’t heal on its own, consult a medical professional.
• To ease pain take pain medications.
• Drink lots of water

2.1. Things to Avoid

• Hot and spicy foods
• Citrus food such as orange and lemon
• Control your alcohol intake and tobacco use
• Avoid eating bland foods
• Keep away from junk and processed food
• Do not bite or disturb the area of the sore

3. Prevention of Mouth Sores

Here are some healthy practices you can follow to prevent a roof-of-mouth sore from occurring:

• Eating a balanced and healthy diet has quite a few advantages and one of them is the prevention of roof of mouth sores.
• Practising oral hygiene from an early age is important. Clean your mouth daily and brush your teeth two times a day. Make sure that you are using a toothbrush that is soft.
• Avoid stress. Stress may have many harmful impacts on your body. It also causes mouth sores.
• Avoid eating hot and spicy food and also acidic food.
• Reduce your alcohol intake and tobacco use.

4. When to See a Doctor?

• When the sores are accompanied by fever and muscle pain.
• When the sore doesn’t heal by itself even after a month.
• If the pain from the sore is unbearable and doesn’t go away after taking medication
• If you see changes in the sore and the area surrounding it.
• If the roof of the mouth sore starts spreading to other areas.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, a roof-of-mouth sore might not be a big concern, but you might need to consult a doctor if the symptoms are not common. Hope this article was helpful.

Also, check out this article.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Causes Mouth Sores?

There are many things that cause mouth ulcers. The most common cause is injury (such as accidentally biting the inside of your cheek). Other causes include aphthous ulceration, certain medications, skin rashes in the mouth, viral, bacterial and fungal infections, use of certain chemicals, and some medical conditions.

Q2. How Do You Heal Mouth Sores?

Use salt water or baking soda rinse (dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup warm water). Dab a small amount of milk of magnesia on your canker sore a few times a day. Avoid abrasive, acidic or spicy foods that can cause further irritation and pain.

Q3. How Long Do Mouth Sores Last?

Mouth sores usually last for 10 to 14 days.

Q4. What Do Mouth Sores Look Like?

Most canker sores are round or oval with a white or yellow centre and a red border. They form inside your mouth — on or under your tongue, inside your cheeks or lips, at the base of your gums, or on your soft palate. You might notice a tingling or burning sensation a day or two before the sores actually appear.

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2. Sores, What Causes Canker. “Canker Sores.” (2008). ↩︎
3. Crimi, Salvatore, et al. “Herpes virus, oral clinical signs and QoL: systematic review of recent data.” Viruses 11.5 (2019): 463. ↩︎
4. Suhana, MA Intan, A. Farha, and B. M. Hassan. “Inflammation of the Gums.” Malaysian Family Physician: the Official Journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia 15.1 (2020): 71. ↩︎
5. Meadow, David, G. Lindner, and Howard Needleman. “Oral trauma in children.” Pediatr dent 6.4 (1984): 248-51. ↩︎
6. Su, Cindy W., Sean Gaskie, and Barbara Jamieson. “What is the best treatment for oral thrush in healthy infants?.” (2008). ↩︎

Last Updated on July 22, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology